Tennis set



Sept. 6, 1938. v J. L. KLEIINMA'N 2,128,948

TENNIS SET Filed July 51, 1955 INVENTOR Patented Sept. 6, 1938 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICES TENNIS SET.

Jacob L. Kleinmacn, New York, N. Y.

Application July 31, 1935, Serial No. 33,974

26 Claims.

This invention relates to a device constituting a table and accessoriesused in connection therewith in playing the game familiarly known asPing-Pong and more properly designated as table tennis. The inventionconsists in providing a table of unique construction, and moreparticularly of a table top and supporting structure therefor, as wellas a net holder of novel design and construction; and is filed as aconiO tinuation in part and also as an improvement of my co-pendingapplication for Tennis sets, Serial No. 696,633, filed November 4th,1933. Certain figures and certain claims that were originally includedin the above-mentioned co-pending application but were withdrawn becausedivision was required by the Honorable Examiner, are included in thepresent application. The structure herein shown is also an improvementover the one disclosed in Patent No. 1,662,118, issued to applicant onJune 7th, 1932.

A primary object of this invention is to provide means in connectionwith a table top structure for receiving a slidable net supportingmember wherein the sliding portion will move below the upper surface ofsaid top, so that there will be fewer parts exposed upon the playingsurface. Thus the net may be brought down closer to such surfaceimproving the game considerably.

Another object of this invention is to provide a construction of tablecapable of permitting the tensioning of a net applied thereto, by meansof a member slidably mounted within a, slot provided on the side of thetable.

A further object of the invention is to provide a net holder device,capable of application to my novel'structure of table, such net holderbeing adapted to have its movement controlled by means of a screw or anyother suitable device and a U-shaped member having an off-set backportion.

A'still further object is to provide, in a net holder, means forobtaining a firm edge line on the net stretched between the supportingposts,

"45 irrespective of the state of tension'of the net or the adjustment ofsaid tension, and means for raising or lowering the net, in order toobtain the proper height of such net.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of a. net holdingstand capable of being "placed upon a table without the necessity ofusing clamps, and which stand is adjustable to 'fit any table 'width.

1-111 of the above objects will be seen to be directed toward providinga practical and durable device simple in construction and thereforeeconomical in cost of manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear fromthe description thereof to follow, taken in connection with the accom- 5panying drawing in which- Fig. l is a view of a portion of a table (legsnot shown), embodying my present invention including the net set inassembled form;

Fig. 2 shows a portion of the table adapted 'lo to support a net holderwithout the use of a U- sha-ped member;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the member which is attachedto the net;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the pivotal connectionalong the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the top portion of the U-shapedmember along the line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a top view of the sliding member showing the opening whereinthe net supporting post is positioned;

Fig. 7 is a modification of the assemblage of Fig. 1, and,

Fig. 8 is a side view of the end portions of Fig. '7.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 (Fig. 1)indicates the table top which may be made of any suitable mate-- rial,for example, wood, metal, fibre or Bakelite. (Such a table top may besupported by legs, not shown, or any other suitable means.) A U- shapedmember A is positioned at about the center portion of the table. SaidU-shaped member is at its bottom portion '5 provided with an opening 8wherein is positioned a rotatable element of screw member 9, whose upperportion I ll passes through an interiorly threaded member or nut M. Saidnut (non-circular in shape) is posi- 40 tioned against the inner face E2of wall 6 of said U-shaped member A, and will, therefore, not

' rotate upon the operation of member 9 but will travel vertically andupon its downward movement will engage the floor M so that member 3Willbe'forced to move upwardly until portion It will engage portion 55of member l6, which is slidably associated with said wall 6, thusforcing said member it against the underneath of the table top 5,clamping said top between saidmember Hi and portion ii of U-shapedmember A, thereby securing said U-shaped member A to said table top.

Top portion H of U-shaped member A is pro- I vided with flanged portionsE8, the end sectionsof which are inclined or bend towards each other,for example as at l9 (see Fig. 5) thereby forming a sort of a channelshaped portion, thus flange portion I8 may be provided with an opening[8' so that when member or section 20 is placed in proper position, itwill slide within the said channel portion or opening but will not movevertically. Of course flange portion 58 may be provided with an openingof any suitable style or shape for the purpose of supporting section 20of post 38. In order to control the slidable move ments of slidingmember 20, the wall 6 of U- shaped member A is provided with an off-set,extension or angular shaped rear end portion 22, and a floor portion 23.Said floor portion 23 is provided with an opening 24 wherein is inserteda screw threaded member 25 whose top portion 26 passes through aninteriorly threaded member or nut 21. Said nut, because of beingnoncircular in shape and having one of its side portions positionedagainst the inner face 29 of portion 22, will not rotate when member 25will be rotated, but will engage floor 23, forcing said member 25 tomove upwardly until portion 26 will pass through an opening in portionIT and engage the under-face of the slidable member 20, arresting saidmember, thus checking and controlling'its movements. Of course, portion22 and nut 27 may be arranged in a manner as is portion 6 and nut ll,wherein the nut will not rotate but may travel vertically in eitherdirection, or the nut 27! may be permanently secured to the extension 22in any suitable manner, or the extension 22 may be so constructed or ofsuch a thickness that a sufficient number of screw threads may be formedtherein, thus eliminating the need of nut 2'1. (The same applies toportion I and nut H or the nut 27 may be secured to the outer face ofwall 3 for the purpose of carrying member 25.)

It will be noticed that wall 6 of U-shaped member'A is so shaped, orconstructed that a portion of same is adapted to engage a portion of top5, acting as a guide and preventing the direct contact of nut 21 andmember 25 with said top portion, thereby preventing injuries to thetable top when member 25 is being operated. The reason for using memberl6 (instead of the common method used, namely placing a cap on portionIt!) is because the flat surface of member It will not injure the underportion or under face of the table, whereas a cap will bite or scratchthus injuring such under-portion.

In some cases, the underneath portion of the table top is so constructed(that it may include carving or any other ornamental feature), so thatthe under structure of the U-shaped member can not be positionedthere-against, thus preventing the securement of the U-shaped member tosuch a table top, or a table top may be finished in a manner whereby itmay be provided with a very fine and expensive polished surface so thatanything pressed thereunder may indent and thus injure such a surface.It is therefore not possible nor practical neither advisable to secure aU-shaped member to such tables in the usual manner. Applicant hastherefore invented a novel means in connection with a U-shaped memberwhich makes such U- shaped member applicable to almost any kind of atable and therefore making same a more practical and also a morevaluable article, of which the following is a description.

Referring to the drawing (with respect to the herein mentioned U-shapedmember, see Fig. 1)

.sirable position) the wall 6 of U-shaped member A is provided with anopening 33, wherein is positioned a portion of a rod or any othersuitable means 3| which comprises sections adjustably secured to eachother in a manner whereby the size or length of such a member 3! may becontrolled or adjusted to the desired size or width of a table. The endportions of such member may be provided with oif-set or gripping headportions 32. The inner end portions of same as well as the end portionsof the inner sections 33 may be provided with threaded portions 34,interfitting with each other, so that when the operator turns portions32, the sections will rotate, closing up and bringing the U-shapedmembers nearer towards each other, thereby properly securing same to thetable top.

In order to ease the rotation of member or rod 3|, washers 35 arepositioned between the head portions 32 and the outer faces of walls 6,so that the rear face of head 32 will not rub or bite against the outerface of wall 6 but will slide or turn smoothly. Of course, some of theinner sections 33 may be removed or more sections added to member 3! inorder to meet the width of the table top. A structure of such a type maybe packed and sold as a single unit and the player may utilize eithermembers 9 and I6 or adjustable rod 3! and thus secure the U-shapedmember A to a table top in any desirable or suitable manner.

The member 23 is provided with an enlarged portion 36. Said portion isprovided with a slot or opening 3? of any suitable style but preferablynon-circular in cross-section (see Figs. 1, 2 and 6) wherein ispositioned a post 38 which may be likewise shaped non-circular incross-section (for example flat material pressed or otherwise shaped toform a substantial rigid member in a manner as is post 28 or as shown inFig. 3 of the above mentioned Patent #1362118. Said post is adapted tomove vertically within said opening, thus raising or lowering the net. Ascrew-threaded member 39 is inserted within a threaded opening formed insaid portion 36 and upon rotation of member 39 (which may be placed inany de- The portion 4| will engage a portion of the post 38, thuschecking its movements and holding same in selected position. (Ifdesired, section 20 and post 38 may be made, shaped or formed of asingle piece of material.)

' The post 38 is provided with a non-circular opening 43 wherein isinserted a member 44, noncircular in cross-section, so that such member44 may slide or move within said opening 43 but will not turn norrotate. The inner end portion 45 of said member 44 is provided with ascrew threaded opening 46 (see Figs. 3 and 4), for a purpose which willbe hereinafter explained.

A member 47 (which may be made of channel shape or of any other suitableor desirable style or shape) may be provided with a suitably shapedopening for the purpose of being secured to a portion of the device inorder to suspend the net over the playing surface, for example, anopening in its rear back portion, for the purpose of receiving portion45. At least one of the side walls 48 of said member 41 may be providedwith an opening 49. A suitable screw threaded member 5! may pass freelythrough the opening 49 and engage the threaded opening 46 of portion 35.Thus screw member 5| acts as an axle for member 47, permitting same tohinge or pivot. The end portions of the walls 48 are provided withopenings 52. The end sections of net 53 thereby tensioning the net. y

will hinge and'equalize the tension of the upper (see Fig. 1) may alsobeprovided with openings "or 'any othersuitablemeans and positionedwithsaid channeled "member 41.

-'section "54' free to move-between the" walls 48 of said channeledmember 41. A washer 50'is placedoven the 'outer end portion of member44.

A'thre'aded wing nut 52' is positioned over said end portion 44 rotatingupon the'threaded side portions-53"so that-when'said wing nut 52 isrotated; its rear end face will engage washer 5|], thenpull m'ember 44;thus pulling member 41, Said member 41 -andlower end sections t55 and56) of the net 53, leaving'the center thereof' at the usual desiredlesser tension.

In order to obtain a very taut edge line of'the net itself), a string 58is positioned loosely within a pocket or opening 59 of net '53. The-topportion Bl of post 38 isprovided with suitable means, for example,anopening or a groove 62 adapted to support the string 58 when same isbeing tightened, and its end portion secured to a headed or book memberor extension 63', which is a part'of post 38 and is located below itstop por- *'tion' 6|. If desired, said member 63 maybe provided with an'opening or slot for'thef purpose of "holding-the string 58 tightlysecured thereto, or the post 38 may be provided with a slot "or opening'to receive'the end portion of string 58, thus securing a firm edgelineofthe section 55 and bringing same to an approximately even levelline 'withthe top portion 6! of the post 38', whereby such't'op portion,not extending above the playing line of the net 53, will not obstructthe eye of the player as the case usually is.

If desired, the member 41 may be provided with 'an' opening, hook, slotor any other suitable or desirable means adaptable for the purpose ofreceiving'the'end portion'of string 58 in which case post 38 may be of adifferent height, size orstyle. The oblo'ngshaped opening 43' may belonger than the size or'width of member 44 sothat by -moving member 44vertically the net may'thus 'be'raised'or lowered as may be desired. Ifthe playerdesires to ha've'the-sec'tions "56 looser'than the section 55,all he has to do is to hinge or swing the member 41, bringing the upperportion towards-the post38; and then tighten the screw 5|.

The inner face-of such screw willengage Washer be'eliminated, becausewhile tensioning the net,

the upper'firm edged-line will thus be formed. 'A reverse turn of thescrew 5| Willrele'ase' member 41,- which in'turn will re-adjust thetension "of the upper and lower sections.

All of the aforesaid'may be accomplished without disturbing theadjustment of the net holding device. 'Of

course, if desired; bothwalls may be provided withope'riings and adouble screw (male and feinale sections) may be used'for securingtightly the member 41 to portion 45.

Referring to Fig. 2 (also'Fig. 1), table top 5 is provided with anopening 65, said opening being provided-with a lining'or tubular member"66, the lower portion 61 of top 5 is provided with an openin 68. 'Thel'ower p'ortion of the lininglifi is provided with a screw threadedopening 69, smaller in'size'than the opening 68 but parallel 'with'same,so that when screw member 1|, provided with ahead portion 12, isinserted within 'the opening 68 and69, it will not touch the walls ofthe opening 68 but will engage the threaded opening 69. Said lining ormember 66 is pro.- vided with a non-circular opening 13, adapted toreceive the sliding member 20 (thus the U-shaped member A may beeliminated). The sliding member-20 will slide within the said opening 13*a'ndj'willnot be seen upon the top or playing surface; and will,therefore,- not obstruct the eye of the'player' during play. It willalso facilitate the "bringing of the net closer to the playing surface,thereby greatly improving the game of table tennis. "Byrotating member1|, the upper end portions 14 will engage member 20 and in such a "waycheck or control the movements of said "member 20, and hold same inselected position.

If desired, wall 6"of U-shaped or anchoring member A may be providedwith a slot 6' and '--the upper portion of said wall 6 may be shaped asindicated by the dotted lines 6 (eliminating thestructure as shown inFig. 5), in which case the member I6 is'slidably positioned within saidslot 6 in a manner for example as at 2|, wherein said' member Hiis beinggrooved at the side portionsthereof and thus fitted within said slot 5',said member 16 being provided with a slot or opening 2| wherein isinserted member 20. Said member 16 is provided with suitable lockingmeans; for example, a screw member [6 adapted *to' arrest member20 andthus check and control the' movement of same. The advantage of thishovel-type of U-shaped member over the ordinary 'ty'pe "is quiteapparent. For example, in the ordinary type the upper portion of theU-shaped member which-is disposed upon the playing sur "face is providedWith the means for receiving theslidable net supporting member, and istherefore the U-shaped member is of a minimum size as indicated by thedotted lines 6" and therefore "neat and pleasant in appearance.'netsupporting member is not'positioned upon the playing surface butbeneath same, and because -of'the vertically movable or adjustable post,the "net may be raised or lowered and may be brought to any desiredheight, with respect to the playing 'surface. It is therefore quite anadvantage to have a'U-shaped member of this'type attached to any' kindof a table top. In which case the s'lidable' member is not visible uponthe playing surface. It is quite apparent that such a structure is ofgreat importance to the game and therefore quite valuable commercially.

Referring'to Figs. 7 and 8, 15 shows a stand "provided with an opening16. A rod comprised of'sections, for example, such as 18 and 19,adjustablysecured to each other and provided with suitable lockingmeans, for example, a screw member 81, to hold same in adjusted positionand having its end portion positioned within said "opening 16, orconnected to said stand in any 'other'suitable manner. A collapsible 0rfoldable 'niember 11 being provided with a cut out section 84' and anopening-'85, larger in size than the opening 83, is'secured to saidstand in a manner 'so that'when screw portion 86 is inserted within theopenings 83 and 85, the threaded portion 81 will pass these openings andengage the last threaded opening 88. When tightening of member T! tostand 15 is required, a turn of the screw 85 towards the properdirection will cause shoulder 89 to engage one side of the portion 82and pull the outer portion 91 towards portion 82. Thus post Tl may betightened to the stand 15. When folding is required, then, turning thescrew 86 in the opposite direction will loosen the parts, permitting thepivoting and folding of such a part as at 92. By loosening the screw 8I, sections 18 and 19 will telescope within each other. Of course, thestands 15 may be eliminated if so der sired, the members 11 may besecured directly to portions 18 or 19.

formed into a small parcel, so that one may carry :same along whenvisiting friends, placing such set upon any kind of a table or playingsurface and thus a good time may be had enjoying the play of tabletennis, so that this structure may become quite popular and thereforecommercially valuable.

From the above it will be seen that applicant has invented and perfecteda device of a new and unique structure and design, a device which ispractical, useful and therefore of commercial value and, althoughapplicant has shown certain preferred forms in order to explain thenovelty of his invention, yet, by showing such preferred structure, I donot by any means limit myself to this structure, nor to the terms usedin describing same. Various suggestions and changes of structure orterms may be resorted to and I desire it to be understood that I havesame in mind when describing this invention, and seek protection byLetters Patent, and although I have mentioned in describing thisinvention of what materials certain parts may be made, how they may beshaped or styled and how they may be assembled, yet I desire it to beunderstood that this 7 structure or parts thereof may be made of anysuitable material and in any desirable style or shape and assembled inany suitable manner, and

that various changes in detail may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit of this invention.

I claim:

1. In a net supporting assembly for table tennis and similar games,means in combination with a table top adapted to receive a movablemember operable horizontally below the upper surface of said top, saidmember provided with a vertically disposed opening, a post for carryinga net positioned within said opening and adapted to move verticallytherein, thus raising or lowering the body of the net, means forsecuring said post to said member and means for holding said member inselected position.

2. In an apparatus suitable for tennis and similar games, a netanchoring member adapted to be supported by a playing surface for thepurpose of supporting a net above said surface, the upper portion ofsaid member extending upward approximately as high as the upper endportion of the net and provided with means for supporting a stringsuspended from said end portion, so that an approximately straight linebetween the upper end portions of said net and of the member isobtained, said member being provided with a slotted portion projectingoutwardly below said supporting means in a manner so as to have the endportion of said string secured thereto.

3. In an apparatus suitable for table tennis and similar games, thecombination of members wherein at least one of same may be adapted to beslidably associated with a table top operable below the upper surface ofsame and at least one may be adapted to support a net above said top, atleast one of said members being provided with a vertically disposedopening for receiving the other member, so that the net supportingmember may be moved vertically, thus carrying the body of the net tohigher or lower position with respect to the surface of said top.

4. A top useful for table tennis and similar games, at least one sideportion thereof being provided with an opening below its upper surface,at least one section of said opening being provided with a lining, saidopening adapted to receive slidably therein a portion of a netsupporting member, and means associated with .said lining for securingsaid member in selected position.

5. A U-shaped member adapted to be secured toa top suitable for tennisor similar games, said U-shaped member provided with upper, lower andrear wall sections, said rear wall provided with an off-set portion,said off-set portion provided with rotatable means for checking themovements of a net supporting member adapted to be slidably connected tothe upper portion of said U-shaped member, said rear Wall section beingso constructed as to have a portion thereof engaging a portion of theside of said top, thereby gauging the distance between the rotatablemember. and theside section of said top, preventing their direct contactwith each other, thus eliminating injuries to the side section of saidtop.

6. A U-shaped member adapted to be secured to a table top, said memberprovided with upper, lower and rear-sections, said rear section providedwith an off-set portion, said offset portion provided with means tocontrol the move ments of a net supporting member adapted to be'slidably associated with the upper section of said U-shaped member, thelower section of said U-shaped member provided with a screw threadedmember the top portion of which is adapted to press against a plateslidably mounted on said ;rear wall section and provided with a fiatupper surface for engaging the under portion of said table top, thusminimizing injuries to said top, said rear wall section provided withguiding means for controlling the distance between said first mentionedcontrolling means and said top.

7. A U-shaped member adapted to be secured to a table top, said member.provided with upper, lower and rear sections, said rear section providedwith a vertically movable plate member,

said lower section provided with a threaded memof a net supportingdevice for the purpose of having a net suspended above said table top.

9. A net holding assembly, for table tennis and the like, at least twomembers of said assembly adapted to be associated with a playing surfacefor the purpose of receiving a net therebetween, a removable elementprovided with adjustable means adapted to engage said members and toadjust the assembly to the width of said playing surface, means forholding said element in said adjusted position, said connection adaptedto be disconnected to separate the two members from eachother.

10. In a net assembly, net supporting members adapted to be associatedwith a playing surface, a rod comprised of separate sections detachablyconnected to each other in a manner so as to adjust the same to thewidth of said playing surface, said rod provided with end sectionsadapted to engage said members for adjusting same relatively to eachother.

11. A net holding device including a member adapted to be secured to atable top, said member provided with an opening adapted to receive amovable section for the purpose of engaging the underportion of saidtop, said section provided with means adapted to support an element forthe purpose of suspending a net above said top.

12. A net holding device including a member adapted to be secured to atable top, said member provided with an opening adapted to receive amovable element for the purpose of engaging the undersection of saidtop, said element provided with an opening adapted to receive a part ofa net supporting member therein.

13. A device including an anchoring member of which the upper section isadapted to engage a part of the upper portion of a table top, the sidesection of said member being provided with a slot longitudinallydisposed, an element positioned within said slot in such a manner thatit may be'moved longitudinally within said slot, the lower section ofsaid anchoring member provided with means adapted to exert pressureagainst said element thereby securing said anchoring member to said top,said element provided with an aperture adapted to receive slidablytherein a portion of a net supporting device, said element provided withmeans for engaging said last mentioned portion thereby checking itsmovements thus holding same in selected position.

14. In a structure as set forth in claim 13, wherein said means withinthe lower section of said anchoring member comprises a screw threadedopening having a screw threaded member positioned therein, said screwmember upon operation being adapted to exert said pressure against saidelement.

15. In a structure as set forth in claim 13 wherein the means withinsaid element comprises a screw threaded opening having a screw threadedmember positioned therein, and upon operation being adapted to engagesaid last mentioned portion thus holding said net supporting device inselected position.

16. In a structure as set forth in claim 13, wherein the side walls ofsaid element are provided with grooved portions adapted to fit withinthe slot of said anchoring member, and rotatable means associated withsaid element for securing said last mentioned portion in selectedposition.

17. A top useful for table tennis. or similar games, at least one sideportion thereof being provided with an opening below the upper surfaceof said top, a lining provided with an aperture shaped non-circular incross-section secured within said opening, said aperture being adaptedto receive slidably therein a net supporting member of Which at least aportion is shaped noncircular in cross section, said lining providedwith a screw threaded opening adapted to receive a screw-threaded memberfor the purpose of engaging and checking the movements of said netsupporting member.

18. In a structure as set forth in claim 17, wherein the top portionbelow said lining is provided with an opening larger in size than thatof the screw-threaded opening within said lining, thus providing aclearance for said screw-threaded member permitting same to engage thescrewthreaded opening of said lining.

19. A net supporting device adapted to be associated with a playingsurface, a member being secured to the end portion of a net, said memberadapted to be pivotally connected to a portion of said device, saidpivot provided with means for checking the pivotal movements of saidmember.

20. In a structure as set forth in claim 19, wherein a portion of saiddevice and a portion of said member being provided with openings, atleast one of said openings provided with a screw-threaded portion, saidpivot provided with a screw threaded portion and a shouldered portionand positioned within said openings for the purpose of providing thepivotal means for said member, said shoulder portion forming said meansfor checking such pivotal movements of said member.

21. A net supporting device adapted to be secured to a table top, achanneled member adapted to be connected to the end sections of a net,the rear wall of said channeled member provided with an aperture atabout the center portion thereof, a portion of said device interfittingwith said apertured portion, said portions provided with openings, atleast one of said openings provided with a screw-thread, a screwthreaded member provided with a shouldered portion positioned Withinsaid openings, thus providing means for the pivotal movements of saidchanneled member, said shouldered portion adapted to engage one of theside walls of said channeled members thereby checking the pivotalmovements of same.

22. In a net holding device, a member adapted to be secured to a playingboard, said member provided with a slot, a grooved member beingpositioned therein in a manner whereby the grooves thereof engage theedge portions of said slot so that said grooved member may be movedwithin said slot, and means for supporting a net above said playingboard, said means being slidably associated With said grooved member.

23. An anchoring member adapted to be secured to a table top, saidmember provided with a portion facing the side portion of said top, anet supporting element slidably associated with a portion of saidanchoring member, said side portion of said anchoring member providedwith means for checking the movements of said element.

24. A U-shaped member adapted to be secured to a playing top, one arm ofsaid member adapted to engage a portion of the upper surface of saidtop, said arm provided with means adapted to receive a portion of amovable net supporting element, the rear wall portion of said U-shapedmember provided with means for supporting a screw-threaded elementadapted upon rotation to check the movements of said net supportingelement.

25. A top useful for table tennis or similar games, at least one sideportion thereof being provided with means forming an aperture below theplaying surface of said top, at least a part of said side portionadjacent said aperture comprising a metallic element, said apertureadapted to receive slidably therein a portion of a net supportingmember, and means associated with said element for securing said memberin selected 10 position.

